Boiling Eggs

Udit Bhatia invented cascade poetry in 2007. This relatively new style of poetry got its name because it should flow down the page in a waterfall effect. The poem’s structure is simple and relies on the refrain to create the cascading rhythm. The magic of these poems centers around the refrain. The unmetered poems vary in theme depending on the poet’s desire. The only rule used when writing a cascade is that all the lines in the first paragraph are repeated at the ends of every stanza that follows. I will call this cascade poem Boiling Eggs.

Structure of a cascade poem and Boiling Eggs

The lines are represented as ABC.

1. The first line ends with line A.
2. The second line ends with Line B.
3. The third line ends with line C.

I had written this form of poetry before and had fun with it. I plan to start the month of March using this style. The length of the stanza can vary. There is no rule about sticking to three lines. The thing to remember is that the longer the stanza, the more complicated the poem.

Boiling Eggs

Boiling eggs is Rooster’s thing.
Because he has it down to a science
I guess you could say he is the egg man
That’s not for me I like the yolk

I wonder if when John Lennon sing
About the Walrus or the egg man
Did he have my husband in mind
Boiling eggs is Rooster’s thing.

In between the minutes of silence
The egg man sings his mellow tune
He wants them cooked just right
Because he has it down to a science

White shells in the trash can
The slight hint of sulfur in the air
He makes them by the dozen 
I guess you could say he is the egg man


Sometimes I think it’s all a joke
Other times I don’t really care
It seems like boiled egg are a lot of work,
That’s not for me I like the yolk

Who is Molly Shea?

Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh.  To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.

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